Chicken brooder and finishing battery



A. E. KINKAID CHICKEN BROODER AND FINISHING BATTERY Filed Oct. 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nw. 5, E935. l A. E. KINKAID l CHICKEN BROODERvAND FINISHING BATTERY Filed Oct. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www Nw., 5, E935. A. E. KINKAID CHICKEN BROODER AND FINISHING BATTERY Filed Oct. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE `CHICKEN RooDEn AND FINISHING Vlvmnmr 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a chicken brooder and finishing battery, and primarilyaims to provide a brooder particularly adapted to raise chickens for market purposes.

It is also a primary object of the invention to provide a brooder including a plurality of heated and ventilated compartments intended to receive and house chicks diiering in degree yof maturity, and having means for controlling separately the heat and ventilation within the individual compartments, thus permitting to regulate 4the temperature and draught for the proper raising of .the chicks of a certain age in a particular compartment.

Another important object of the invention `resides in the provision .oi a battery brooder unit vcomprising a plurality of individual compartments having means for conducting under control fresh outside air `directly .thereto and to each of its compartments.

It is also among the desired features of the invention to provide a device of the character mentioned constructed of knock-down sheet metal parts formed for interlocking engagement, thus eliminating the use of fastening elements and allowing for quickly assembled .and dismantling; the metallic structure of the device .further permitting .the same to be easily and readily .cleaned and kept sanitary by use ,of water, ,steam spray, or ame torch, without injuring the parts thereof. I

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its 'mode of operation may be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art, I have in the accordpanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out a possible embodiment of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the battery unit;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in section; Y

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the liney 3 3 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrow points but having the drawers removed therefrom; f v

Figure 4 is a vertical .longitudinal sectional view of one form of a removable drawer adapted to be used in connection with the brooder;

Figure 5 is a detail transverse section through a portion of the brooder frame having a drawer of the type as disclosed in Figure 4 arranged vUhtrellptm'and this drawer being kshown insection and suchsection being taken on the line 5-5 kof ,Figure 4 Vin the direction of the arrow points;

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal section through one of the secondary heat conducting pipes for 5 illustrating the construction of the dampers employed.:

.Figure 7 is ka detail elevation of one of the stanchions havingone of the channel bars connected thereto and said channel bar being shown 10 Ain section, and

Figure 8 is aslightly enlarged detail sectional view of one oi the humidifying devices.

Having more particular reference to the `drawings wherein like characters of reference will desl5 ignate corresponding parts throughout, the construction of my improved brooder consists of a cabinet having arranged therein a plurality of superposed tiers and removably supported upon each .tier is a drawer or compartment for hous- 20 ing the chicks. The forward end of the cabinet is or an open construction whereas the rear end thereof is Aproperly enclosed in order that heat at controlled temperatures may circulate through the closed portion oi the cabinet about the rear 25 ends of each of said drawers orcornpartments. The framework of the cabinet consistsof two pairs of stanchions, each being herein indicated by the numeral l. 'One pair of stanchions is arranged at the forward end of the cabinet, where- 30 as the other pair of stanchions are arranged at the rear end thereof and are indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings by dotted lines. The forward pair of stanchions have their lower ends connected together by means of a cross bar 3d and these 35 forward stanchions are connected to the rear lhousing of the cabinet by means of the bars 3b.

A cover 38 is provided for the cabinet and rests upon the upper ends of these stanchions. This cover is providedv with depending side bars 3c 40 which provide braces for the upper ends of the forward pair of stanchions.

Upon the upper flange 4 of each of the spaced channels 3, is supported a drawer 5. Each drawer is constructed of sheet metal and is provided with 45 a rear section 6 of less height than the main section oi the drawer, for the purpose to be later specified. 'I'he front and sides of the main section of the drawer 5 are formed with a plurality of elongated apertures l, whereby access 50 may be had to the feed and water troughs 1 suspended outwardly of the drawer. Each of the water troughs may be provided with hooks 1a which engage the drawers by extending through the openings 1 thereoi' and are further provided 55 -gaging the screening I3.

with depending arms 1b1 which contact with the outer face of the drawers so as to provide means for detachably connecting the troughs to the drawers as is better illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. In each type of drawer as shown in Figures 4 and 5, slots Ilare formed in the walls thereof through which may extend suitable fastening elements I0 carried by the plates 8. These plates are for the purpose of covering the openings 1 and have formed therein smaller openings or slots 9 in order that the drawers may accommodate smaller chicks. The bottom of the drawer is constituted by a removable screen comprising a mitered metal frame I2 clampingly en- The screen frame I2 is supported upon the drawer by engagement within channel guides I4 formed with the end panels of the drawer, and rests on flanges I5 bent inwardly from the side panels o-f said drawer.

The reduced rea-r section 6 of the .drawer supports upon its top a screen I6 resting upon flanges I1, and receives a perforated metal screen I8 adapted to protect the chicks from the walls of said section 6 of the drawer.

Pivoted transversely of the drawer near the reduced rear section 6 thereof, is a plate valve I9 having a counterweight extension 20. A chain 2| guided by means of rollers or pulleys 22,'and passing .through a tube 23 aflixed to the upper portion of the drawer, is connected to lthe counterweighted extension of the plate valve I9 and projects at the front of said drawer as at 24, whereby said valve plate may be manually operated.

The drawer assembly may be bodily withdrawn from or placed in position within the unit, and, in its movement, it is guided by means of guides 25 carried by the supporting channels 3.

Underneath the drawer 5 is positioned a drop pan 26 slidably supported upon the lower flange 21 of the channel 3.

Arranged about the back of the unit frame and portions of its sides, that is, inclosing the reduced rear section of the drawer 5 when in position in said frame, are parallel inner and outer sheet metal walls defining. chambers therebetween.

The chamber defined by theback inner wall 28 and outer wall 29 forms a ventilation shaft 30, the lower end of which registers with a conduit 3l placing said shaft in communication with the outside air, whereby fresh air discharges directly in said shaft. The back inner wall 28 is provided with rectangular openings 32 extending substantially throughout the entire width of the wall, and disposed immediately above the screened top of the reduced section 6 of the drawer 5 when in position. At said openings, the inner wall 28 is formed with hood. extensions33 projecting over said section of the drawer. Inthis manner, fresh outside air is directly circulated to each individual drawer or compartment wherein the chicks are tobe raised. A valve 84 is mounted at each opening in order to control the ventilation in each compartment.Y The valves 34 are independently controllable by means of chains 35 or the like connected to a corresponding valve. Valves 36 likewise supplied with operating chains 31, are also'V provided at, the top and bottom of the shaft 38 for controlV of the ventilating air circulation therein. The chains 35 and 31 are passed over the top cover 38 of the unit and are accessible at the front thereof as indicated at 39. Y

The chambers defined by the side inner walls Vmain for two or three weeks. divided and placed into the second and third 55' 40 and outer walls 4I, provide a pair of diametric'ally opposed ducts 42 protecting a contiguous pipe 43 or the like which runs transversely in and out of each of the compartments hereinbefore described. 'Ihe portions of the pipe 43 5 extending throughout the compartments, are disposed immediately below the hood extensions 33 formed with the back inner wall 28. The lower end of the pipe 43 projects outwardly of one of the ducts 42, as indicated at 44, and is connected 10 to a suitable heater 45 of any well known type.

YThe upper end 4B of the pipe 43 projects through the top 38 of the unit and forms an escaping vent. Those portions of the pipe 43 positioned within the compartments are supplied with a 15 pair of secondary pipes 41 communicating therewith, in order that the circulating heat medium may be distributed to advantage throughout the compartments.

As will clearly appear upon reference to Figure 20 3 of the drawings, the main pipe 43 and secondary pipes 41 are slightly slanted in the upward direction, and this is for the purpose of facilitating the normal circulation of the heat transmitting medium. Each secondary pipe 41 is pro- 25 vided at its'lower end portion with a .damper 48 for controlling the circulation of said medium. A damper 49 similar in construction to that of the damper 48 is provided adjacent the vent portion 46 of the main pipe 43. The dampers 48 and 49 30V are counter-weighted as at 5B (Fig. 6) to normally return to their closed position. These dampers 43 and 49 are each provided with an operating lever 5I. j

That vthe properdegree of humidity may be 35 supplied to the brooder, a water pan 52 is supported adjacent the heat medium circulating pipes 43 and 41 within each compartment. As illustrated in Figure 8, the water is automatically supplied tok the pans 52 through a float operated 40 valve 53 interposed in a common supply pipe 54 leading from a reservoir 55 arranged upon the unit top cover 38 (Figs. 1 and 2). Any surplus v.water which may be discharged into the pans 52 y ,is taken off through a branched overflow pipe 45 56 opening in a suitable tank 51 at the lower portion oi.' the unit.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that I have provided a brooder battery unit construction' which is most advantageous for raising and 50 finishing chickens.

In use, the newly hatched chicks are preferably placed in the uppermost drawer where they re- This group is then drawers, or compartments, where they are fattened until theeighth or ninth week. During vthis time, the chickens are observed and the larger fowls are removed from the two latter compartments to the lowermost .drawer where 6 they are finished for the market. y The particular features of the invention which permit the independent control of the heat,.ventilation and humidity in each individual Vcompartment, afford an advantage of the greatest importance, since they allow the positive regulation within each compartment of the temperature and Vventilation most suitable for the breeding of the chickens of different degree of maturity raised in the battery Vunit.`

,It will Vbe understood that through the construction of my improved device, fresh outside air iszdischarged directly into each compartment. I n this manner. it is assured that no foul air will be breathed by the chicks raised in the various compartments of the unit. Fresh air is taken directly from the outside, with the flow or velocity of current being controlled by dampers at the inlet to the fresh air conduit. The ventilator at the top of the fresh air shaft regulates the amount of fresh air therein. The fresh air Ventilators to each compartment can be regul-ated to control the flow and amount of fresh air into each of said compartments, the air being suitably heated from the heat medium circulating pipe directly outside of the ventilator. After the Warm fresh air currents have served their purpose, they pass out through the front of the unit by natural gravitation of cool-Warm air circulation.

Due to the all metallic construction of the unit, the same may be kept clean and sanitary by use of water, steam spray or flame torch, Without injury to the parts. Also, due to the knock-.down construction of the unit, it will be appreciated that the sarne may be quickly and readily assembled or taken apart Without requiring special tools or particular skill. Likewise, the kno-ckdown construction facilitates the handling and shipping, thus impair-ting to the invention, a meritorious commercial value in supplying the trade.

Manifestly, the construction shown and described is capable of considerable modification and such modifications as come Within the scope of my claim I consider Within the spirit of my invention.

I claimz- A brooder of the character described, comprising a plurality of compartments adapted to be mounted within a brooder house; an air circulating shaft common to all of sai-d compartments and disposed at the rear portion thereof; means establishing communication between said shaft and each individual compartment; conduit means leading from outside the brooder house and open- 5 ing into said shaft whereby to discharge fresh air from outside the brooder house directly into each of the compartments and create a natural circulation therein;'means in each compartment defining a partially closed chamber therein, said chamber communicating with the air circulating shaft through said communication establishing means and With the remainder of the compartment for admitting fresh air into the latter; a heat medium circulating m-ain conduit running continuously in and out from one compartment to the other, that portion of the heat medium circulating main conduit in each compartment being disposed Within the partially closed chamber therein whereby to heat the air before its admission into the remainder of the compartment; heat medium circulating secondary conduits communicating with that portion of the main conduit positioned in said chamber Within each compartment; valves controlling the communication between said portion of the main conduit and secondary conduits; valve means arranged at the point of communication of said chamber with the air circulating shaft for varyingr the amount of fresh air thereinto to be heated; and other Valve means positioned adjacent the point of communication between the charnber and the remainder oi' the compartment for controlling the amount of heated air 'discharged within the respective compartments.

ALBERT E. KINKAID. 

